The Chancellor's Scholar recognizes students with the highest cumulative grade point average during their academic careers. Congratulations Lindsey and Yingjie!
2025 Sherry Queener Graduate Student Excellence Award
Olivia Bednarski
School of Medicine, Microbiology & Immunology PhD
“Throughout her doctoral studies, Olivia has demonstrated exceptional initiative and scientific acumen. Despite limited prior exposure to bioinformatics and immunology, she quickly acquired these complex skill sets, allowing her to conduct rigorous analyses and contribute meaningfully to lab projects. Olivia has published her work in prominent venues, presented at international conferences, and received prestigious accolades, including the Ben Kean Fellowship from the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Her intellectual curiosity, combined with her adaptability and persistence, makes her a standout scholar in the IUSM community....” - One of Olivia’s nominators
Sydney Powers
Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, MS Criminal Justice and Public Safety
"Following the completion of her MSCJPS degree, Sydney plans to continue education and attend law school. She aspires to be an attorney who provides legal access for under-resourced victims of domestic violence while championing initiatives to reduce domestic and intimate partner violence in our communities. Her pursuit of the MSCJPS degree prior to attending law school is motivated by a desire to understand the mechanisms associated with the criminal justice system and domestic violence victimization so she can be best prepared to affect positive change. Such an intentional commitment to education with an eye toward societal impact is truly commendable." - One of Sydney’s nominators
2025 Chancellor's Scholar
Ashley Giourdas
PhD Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
“Throughout her academic pursuits, Ashley has consistently demonstrated exceptional work, keen professionalism, and strong integrity. Her ability to translate her research into clinical care environments or theoretical applications for the greater community is commendable.... Furthermore, Ashley embodies qualities integral to the Award, including leadership, character, and social consciousness. Her empathy and passion for her work in physical therapy are evident in her contributions to improving patient care and making a meaningful difference in their lives.” – One of Ashley’s nominators
Stella Snyder
M.S in Psychology
“Stella’s extensive research experience is complemented by her clinical and volunteer work. Last year, she served as a therapist for our Clinical Psychology Mental Health Center where she provided psychotherapy and assessments to students. This year, she has been a therapist at the Riley Hospital Pediatric Oncology Unit. Across both settings, her supervisors were very pleased with her clinical skills.... All of these activities show her character and commitment to serving others.” – One of Stella’s nominators
2025 Elite 50
Congratulations to all the Elite 50 award winners!
Each year, IU Indianapolis honors 50 graduate and professional students who demonstrate excellence beyond the classroom—in areas such as campus leadership, scholarly work, and community engagement. These IU Indianapolis Elite 50 represent the best of the best among IU Indianapolis’s graduate and professional students and capture everything that makes IU Indianapolis exceptional.
2025-2026 John H. Edwards Fellowship
Basant Hens
“Specifically, one of the areas that most impressed me during the high school students’ rotation was Basant’s desire to learn about not only the high school students’ future career plans, but also to understand and learn about their culture. Basant was able to relate directly to these high school students in some ways by bringing her own cultural identity to their interactions. Moreover, I was very impressed with how Basant learned so much from them about who they were individually and how she embraced learning about their culture. These interactions strongly demonstrate her leadership, social consciousness, and generosity.” – One of Basant’s nominators
2025 University Distinguished Ph.D. Dissertation Award
Gabby Hartman
"In addition to her scientific achievements, Gabby has shown a deep commitment to community outreach and education. She has volunteered in various programs aimed at promoting STEM education among underrepresented groups, demonstrating her passion for making science accessible to all. Her involvement in these initiatives reflects her dedication to fostering the next generation of scientists and her belief in the transformative power of education." Gabby's advisor
2025 INSPECT Fellowship Recipients
The INSPECT Fellowship trains STEM graduate students to advise on public policy by working with state and local officials. Its goal is to integrate scientific knowledge into policy decisions to improve the health, sustainability, and economic growth of Indiana.
Alexandra Hicks
M.S. Nutrition & Dietetics
“Alexandra's research and analytical abilities are outstanding. She has a keen ability to dissect complicated issues, break them down into understandable components, and communicate her findings in a clear and meaningful way to varied audiences. Her dedication to her studies and her passion for the field of nutrition and dietetics are evident in all her work.”
Lean Hong Tan
M.S. Geology
“Beyond research, Hong has shown a deep commitment to mentoring and teaching in the geosciences. He has taught undergraduate course in Earth and Our Environment with a huge focus on green energy practices and consistently receiving outstanding evaluations from both students and colleagues. Hong’s ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and engagingly makes them an exceptional educator who inspires and motivates students.”
Other Outstanding Student Awards
2025-2026 Wells Graduate Fellowship
2024 Lieber Memorial Associate Instructor Award
Soumilee Chaudhuri
Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Medical Neuroscience, IU School of Medicine
“What sets Soumilee apart is her consistent ability to excel in the intricate details of cutting-edge dementia research while also connecting with fellow students, the broader community, and policymakers to ensure her work has real-world impact. Her combination of technical expertise, leadership, and public advocacy makes her an outstanding and multifaceted researcher. She is driven by the desire to make scientific knowledge of dementia accessible and relevant to the communities most impacted by her own and others’ research…I am confident that Soumilee will continue to be a dynamic contributor to both science and society, advancing the field of Alzheimer’s Disease research while championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM.”– Soumilee’s nominator
Read about the Wells Graduate Fellowship
Persis Ayeh
PhD student Health Communication, School of Liberal Arts
Persis has been in the Health Communication program for three years and has taught for seven semesters. Her favorite course to teach is an undergraduate public speaking course, as she enjoys watching the transformation of her students from shy and timid to confident and self-assured in their public speaking skills. Upon graduation, Persis wants to do more consulting/developmental work within communities regarding health literacy and health education. Being a Ghanian, she also wants to work with international organizations and give back to the community at home and continue teaching as well.
Read about the highly-respected Lieber Memorial Associate Instructor AwardIt’s such an honor to be recognized with this award and receive so much support from my family, friends, and peers. - Persis Ayeh